Two proposals sent back to committee

Macomb aldermen, at Monday's Macomb City Council committee of the whole meeting, voted to send two proposals back to committee for more work.

The council's public works committee will review bids for relocating the sewer lift station that formerly served Western Illinois University's Lamoine Village Apartments. Three construction bids received were all two to three times the engineer's cost estimate.

City Administrator Dean Torreson recommended accepting the lowest alternate bid, a $380,238 offer from D&L Excavating to put some force sewer mains under the street to service the lift station on Wigwam Hollow Road. He said the work needs to be done before the state starts rebuilding the Wigwam Hollow Road Bridge.

Alderman Dennis Moon, chair of the council's public works committee, requested that the project be sent back to committee to see if additional funding could be found to accomplish more of the work. Mayor Mike Inman said the city council could take up the committee's recommendations at its October 7 meeting.

A proposed city ordinance allowing the Macomb Fire Department to assume the duties of the state fire marshal's office regarding the sale and discharge of fireworks was sent back to the city council's public safety committee. This was after fireworks dealer Bob McCullough of Pawn Plus said adoption of the state law would make it impossible for fireworks to be sold in Macomb.

McCullough said a lot measuring 400 by 400 feet would be required for fireworks demonstrations. "There is no lot in Macomb that could meet the state requirement for fireworks sales," he said.

Inman said he is aware of other communities that have adopted the state law without forcing stores to expand.

"All laws are subject to the interpretation and discretion of the enforcer," the mayor said.

City Attorney Kristen Petrie said the fire department had asked for adoption of state enforcement powers because of past public complaints about fireworks sales.

"Adopting this would give the fire department guidelines for enforcement," she said.

Aldermen also discussed a Macomb Planning Commission recommendation to amend sidewalk requirements for new developments. Community Development Coordinator Ed Basch said the amendment would give the city council more flexibility.

"There are cases in which putting sidewalks in new developments is not the best use of the money," Basch said. "This would allow the city council to make alternate arrangements with developers when better ideas may be apparent."

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